Lawsuits can seem so unpleasant from the outside, I suppose that’s why I never seriously considered filing one. I’m basically just your typical shy, scrupulously polite, conflict-avoiding person, and I couldn’t stand the idea of having to start a fight, even if it was justified.

Maybe it was, or maybe it was denial, a refusal to believe what doctors and friends were telling me, refusing to believe I’d be in pain for the rest of my life.

Yet, here we are, three years after my fall in a shop, and I’m still in pain. I didn’t believe it could last, not for the longest time. I’m not an old lady, after all. I’m still in my thirties, I’m in—or I was in—pretty good shape. Who has hip problems at 37? Surely it would just take care of itself.

It didn’t, and now that I’m past the statute of limitations, I’m beginning to regret my decision. Maybe it would have been worth being bold and starting that legal fight a few years ago. No, there’s no maybe about it. It would have been worth it. At this point, I have to call in regularly to work if the pain is too bad. My boss is very understanding, I’m lucky in that, but it means I’m left with less income each month. I certainly can’t afford to go see a physical therapist to try and fix the problem, not now.

I suppose I could get over all this if I didn’t know it didn’t have to be this way. I could adjust to life as it is if there wasn’t that lingering knowledge that I made a mistake by not trying to push harder on this earlier. If I’d taken the advice of my friends (or listened my carefully to my doctors) I could have filed a lawsuit that would have covered that physical therapy, that could have covered my missed work hours, that might have allowed me to see a high-quality specialist. The options, when I think about them, are just heartbreaking.

But at the time, I’d convinced myself not just that I’d get better but that I didn’t have a case and I’d be just stirring up trouble by searching for a way to get money out of a store (a family-owned store at that) when it was my own fault. Having done some research (like on this law firm’s site), I see now I definitely had more than just a decent case, I had the right to seek some compensation not just for the initial fall but for all that’s coming after.

Oh well. The moment has passed now, and I just have to learn to accept that. Regrets, I have a few, as the old song goes. I just need to find a way to be okay with the status quo from now on. I have a good job with an understanding boss. I make enough, even if it isn’t all I used to make. I’ll just have to accept the pain is here to stay. I’m 37, and I have hip problems. That’s just the way it goes.

As many of us are aware, either from experiencing it ourselves or from watching it in others, aging is not a pleasant experience. As we grow older, our bodies deteriorate. Tasks that were simple for us once we were younger may become difficult or impossible to accomplish without assistance. Often the elderly need special care and attention, even around the clock, to make sure they aren’t injured and are able to live comfortably. One thing we especially need to be on the look out for is falls. Though the idea of falling may not seem threatening to most, to the elderly a fall at the wrong place or time can easily result in serious damage.

On Friday, September 22nd, the city of Tucson is recognizing Falls Awareness Day, a part of its larger September Healthy Aging month initiative. In a special report released by the Arizona Daily Star, the newspaper advises several ways you can help increase safety for yourself and any older adults in your life. They advise three main steps: First, make sure you’re getting regular exercise. Though maintaining physical shape may be difficult as we get older, even a little bit of effort can go a long way. There are many different types of exercise programs for older adults, such as water aerobics, programs focused on increasing balance, and many groups outdoor hiking. Usually, groups like this are very affordable for anyone interested. They’ll not only improve your coordination and reduce the risk of falls, but promote greater overall fitness. This will lead to longer and happier lives for you and your family.

Second, make sure to talk to your doctor. Every person should regularly talk with their health-care provider about their lifestyle and personal health concerns. This becomes especially important as aging makes you vulnerable to conditions that previously would have been no issue. Get advice on recommended exercise, foot care, eye care, and any worries about difficult movement. Light-headedness while standing up is an especially problematic sign. This can be an indication of poor blood pressure and easily lead to a fall. Make sure you understand the side effects of any medications and how they may affect your risks of falling.

Finally, make sure your home is safe. Make sure all areas are well lit, areas are free of clutter, floors are made of non-slippery surfaces with lots of traction, stairs are well maintained, and furniture is placed so it won’t cause problems. If you need to, be sure to obtain a walker or cane. When you’re at home, wear shoes to increase traction.

Still, no one can be entirely safe. Even if your home is comfortable, there are many things outside of it that are unpredictable and may lead to a fall. This can be dangerous. According to the Tucson law firm Russo, Russo, and Slania, injuries can very easily result in costly hospital bills. Fortunately, if you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, there are plenty of ways to get compensation. Good luck and stay safe in avoiding falls!

Motorcyclist’s Top Priority: Safety

Motorcycles are economical and efficient modes of transportation, so it is not surprising that it is becoming more popular. This also means that more people are being vulnerable to motorcycle accidents.

It is even worse if the accidents occur because of another driver’s action or inaction. According to the website http://www.thebentonlawfirm.com/, those who have been hurt in motorcycle accidents may get compensation for the damages they have received. But this does not mean that they can be reckless. There are things they can do to ensure their safety.

They can already reduce the risk of accidents and injuries even before they ride their motorcycles. They can regularly check their motorcycles and maintain them to avoid defects and malfunctions that may trigger traffic accidents. They may use safety equipment, such as helmets, kneepads, and elbow pads, to reduce the risk of injury when an accident occurs.

If possible, they should also check the conditions and statuses of the roads they will pass through, as well as the potentially hazardous weather conditions that may compromise safety. Rain water, snow, and ice can make the road slippery and reduce the traction of their tires. Fog blankets may affect their visibility and harsh winds may hurl projectiles on them or create obstructions on the road.

To further reduce the risk of accidents, it is important to follow traffic rules and avoid reckless behaviors. Traffic rules are enforced to ensure that traffic flows smoothly and no collisions happen, so if motorcyclists try to break them, they are putting themselves and other people around them in danger. Reckless behaviors also pose the same risk. Drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, tailgating, and weaving between lanes are just some of the habits motorcyclists should avoid.

Getting involved in a motorcycle accident may have devastating consequences, and there are even times where the consequences are severe enough to be fatal. It is even worse if a motorcyclist’s recklessness or negligence has put another person in danger, such as a motorcycle passenger, a driver of another car, or a pedestrian. For sure, they can file lawsuits against these motorcyclists as well.

Unexpected injuries happen, but it doesn’t mean that you have to take the blame or deal with the repercussions of an accident on your own. Hiring a personal injury lawyer allows a victim the necessary time to recover from injury without the fear of being denied compensation for their pain and emotional suffering.

Certain states require all motorists to carry a minimum “personal injury protection” insurance, in order to cover medical costs no matter who was at fault in the accident. According to Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller and Overbeck, P.A., these laws “make it unfortunately easy for insurance companies to deny claims, leaving hospitals, doctors, and other medical providers without the ability to recover compensation for the cost of treatment performed.”

Medical bills are expensive and you should not have to undergo the financial burden of paying off these expenses if your accident was caused by another party’s negligence. Your insurance company may try many tactics to avoid the disbursement of your claim. By hiring an attorney, you can assure that they will fight your insurance company in order to provide you with the best settlement possible.

Do not allow insurance companies deny you payment that is rightfully yours. Personal injury lawyers will fight against these companies to assure that you get compensation for your losses incurred by injury. The negligence of another individual or a public business should never be tolerated. An attorney well-versed in personal injury claims could make a huge different as you undergo your case in court.

Houston personal injury lawyers like to say that they can fight for coverage of your “expensive medical bills, lost wages, and extensive recovery times.”

Being attacked by a dog can be both physically and emotionally traumatizing. According to jeffsampsonlaw.com, people who suffered from animal attack are faced with a variety of injuries, including hemorrhaging, severe lacerations, fracture, wounds, and deadly infections such as tetanus and rabies. Apart from these physical injuries are the financial difficulties brought about by lost time at work and longer recovery period. In some cases, a dog attack victim may even suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the horrifying incident.

Who is exempted?

As a general rule, negligent dog owners in the U.S. should be liable for the damages incurred by a victim of an animal attack. However, there are instances when an owner is exempted from such responsibility. You may not be eligible for compensation if:

You are attempting to commit felony

You are a trespasser

You physically harmed the dog, which provoked it to attack

You have been attacked by a dog who was assisting the military or the police

You are a canine professional or a veterinarian

Strict liability laws

If you have been attacked by a dog and you are not any one of those mentioned above, you are most likely to be eligible to claim compensation from the dog owner involved. However, your chance of claiming compensation greatly depends on your state’s dog bite statute. Most states, for instance, enact strict liability dog bite laws wherein dog owners are responsible for the damages incurred by the victim even if the victim could have done anything to prevent the situation.

One bite laws

On the other hand, some states adapt an ancient dog bite legal doctrine called one bite rule, or first bite rule. In one bite rule, dog owners are not responsible for the damages done by their pet if they were not aware of its propensity to do harm. The principle behind this doctrine is that all pets are naturally tame, and owners do not know that their pets have the tendency to hurt other people until the first incident of harm. States that enact this type of rule practically allow dogs to have their first bite for free before its owner becomes legally liable. However, owners could still be liable for their dog’s first bite if the owners knew that the particular breed is dangerous.

Whether you require surgery for health reasons or simply wish to undergo an elective procedure, it is important to consider the potential risks of the operation. There are a variety of risks associated with virtually every medical procedure, but some surgeries are more dangerous than others. Even if doctors do everything right, you may still develop serious side effects or suffer complications that could affect every part of your life.

The Risks of Common Surgical Procedures

The following medical procedures are commonly performed on women, whether electively or for health reasons. However, it is important to understand the potential health hazards associated with each of these before you give your doctor your informed consent to the procedure.

Botox Injections

There are a number of uses for Botox. When used in small doses, it can treat muscle problems that cause lazy eyes, severe underarm sweating, and TMJ. Of course, it can also diminish wrinkles so one can look younger. While these outcomes are certainly beneficial, Botox can also cause severe side effects. Depending on the injection site, the most common side effects include bruising or bleeding, tenderness, and soreness. Other side effects include headaches, cough, fever, nausea, and fatigue.

In more serious scenarios, a person can have an allergic reaction to Botox, causing the patient to break out in hives, have difficulty breathing, and experience tightness in the chest. If this happens, you should seek medical treatment immediately. In rare cases, Botox can cause loss of bladder control, vision troubles, and possibly even seizures.

Breast Augmentation

In 2008 alone, over 307,000 breast augmentation surgeries were performed in the United States, making it the most popular plastic surgery procedure in the country. As of 2010, over five million women in the United States have breast implants. Despite this procedure’s popularity, there are also some risks associated with breast augmentation. Some potential complications include the following:

The need for additional surgeries

Scar tissue forming around the implants

Ruptured or deflated implants

Breast pain and change in nipple or breast sensation

Interference with the ability to mammogram breast tissue

Non-Elective Procedures

There are also a number of risks associated with non-elective procedures. One common example is the use of transvaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. Transvaginal mesh is inserted into the pelvic region to strengthen or replace damaged tissue and increase elasticity in the vaginal wall. While this product was initially praised, recent findings have linked transvaginal mesh to a number of complications.

Between 2005 and 2010, there were a reported 3,874 cases of transvaginal mesh complications. This includes problems such as mesh exposure, contraction, or even erosion. When this happens, you could suffer serious pain, infection, organ perforation, scarring, and even neuromuscular problems. Some victims of transvaginal mesh complications have started a transvaginal mesh lawsuit against the manufacturer of this surgical implant, pursuing financial compensation for their damages.

Other Considerations

Before you choose to pursue a surgical procedure, be sure to consider its risks and benefits as well as any alternatives you could pursue instead. It is important to discuss the topic with your doctor and also pursue a second medical opinion in order to protect your health as much as possible.